Act 4
Dan stopped short as he felt the pressure of a pistol in his ribs. Rough hands grabbed his arms, immobilizing him. His gun and badge case were confiscated as a familiar figure took shape out of darkness.
"Mr. Williams – or is it Detective? – how good to see you again. It has been too long." The urbane voice chilled the officer to the core. Wo Fat!
"Inspector Williams. I'm with Lt. Stone at SFPD. McGarrett fired me last year." Dan spat out the words, feigning anger. He had to make Fat believe he had no connection to Five-O.
"Courtesy, Mr. Williams." A flash of anger erupted as the master spy backhanded his captive. No matter," he continued. "McGarrett is here in San Francisco. He will come for you. Then he will be mine and I will demand payment for all the inconvenience he has caused me. You, Inspector, will be the instrument to trap him."
His badge case was handed to the Chinese agent. Wo Fat studied the star-shaped SFPD shield. "I shall return this to your cohorts. McGarrett will come. And you, my friend, will simply disappear. Take him! And I will take this." He pulled a small mic from under Dan's tie and ground it underfoot.
The thugs pinioning Williams forced the struggling officer into a back room. Pushing aside a storage cabinet, one of the men opened an old door and sent Dan spinning down a rickety stairway into darkness.
o-o-o-o-o
Steve's heart nearly stopped as he listened to the exchange. Mike's expression told him that the lieutenant shared his feelings. "I never should have let him go." Remorse colored McGarrett's voice.
"Neither of us could have stopped him," Stone remarked. "He's stubborn. If he felt it was his duty . . ." The older man couldn't continue as he tried to blink back the tears. "I won't lose him. He means a lot to both of us."
Scarne placed a comforting hand on both men's shoulders. "We'll get him back." He stepped out of the car. "I'll check with some of my contacts at the Church."
o-o-o-o-o
Emperor Norton, clad in jeans and an old flannel shirt rather than his usual finery, slipped quietly down the narrow, rubble-filled alley that skirted the back of the Jade Tiger. His temper, unpredictable at times, was on edge. He'd played the Great Game for the Master of the Tiger – and the man had betrayed him. He'd been shot; his dignity affronted. His new task: revenge. He listened at a partially opened window.
"The tunnels! They've got him in the tunnels!" Norton pulled back from the window. He searched for a memory. He'd spent enough nights in those tunnels with other homeless vets, scrounging food from Chinatown's eateries. Maybe he could find Williams, get him out. Those tunnels were scary, damp, cold, a home to rats, feral cats, street dogs. No place for Williams! He rubbed his forehead. Where was the nearest entrance hole? He staggered tiredly down the street.
o-o-o-o-o
Pete Wong was becoming concerned. It had been too long. He sensed trouble, He'd expected Dan back by now. He sauntered into the Jade Tiger and looked for Chen Yu. The tall man handed him a badge case with the order, "See that Lt. Stone gets this. He will know what it means. Be sure he knows his partner's life is at stake. We will return the Inspector when we have McGarrett. Until dawn."
Wong strolled down California Street, watching the crowds. Spotting a familiar tan car, he swaggered over and snarled at the occupants, "Got something for you, cops." Handing over Dan's badge case and leaning into the window, he added in a softer tone, "They're holding Danny prisoner, probably in the old tunnels. Don't think he's hurt. They want McGarrett."
They've given you until sunrise."
Steve tensed; everything in him wanted to spring into action. He forced his emotions to the background. "Got any suggestions? Mike? Pete?"
"We'll need some back-up, the senior detective answered. "Pete, are you with us on this one? It could mean coming out in the open."
"It could also mean shutting down Jade Moon. That gang has been terrorizing the streets long enough. I'm with you."
"OK," Steve took up the planning. "Wait about an hour – stay here with Fr. Scarne. Then, go back and tell Chen and Fat that Stone and I want to arrange a meet. Make them believe there'll be no tricks."
"Call my private line," Mike added. "Meanwhile, we'll find someone who knows those tunnels. It may be our best chance to get to Danny. And I need you there, too. Pete."
o-o-o-o-o
Danny slammed into the railing of the old stairs, wrenching his injured arm and sending a spasm of pain lancing through his body. He stumbled down a few more steps, then finally managed to grab the railing, saving himself from falling the rest of the way. He carefully lowered himself to the step, cradling his aching arm. "Too dark to see. I'm blind down here, Can't stay sitting here. Got to find a way out."
He felt a faint rumble vibrating through the stairs. The sound increased, then faded. The MUNI Metro! He was in a tunnel paralleling BART and the Metro! He stood slowly and gingerly made his way to the bottom of the staircase. He sensed, rather than actually saw, an oh-so-slight patch of cloudy grey brightness in the distance. Perhaps a means of escape, but so many of these old tunnels had collapsed into rubble-filled barriers. He had to try. To remain where he was signed his death warrant – and Steve's. At least he still had a weapon, his small.22 in its ankle holster. It might give him a slight advantage if he could find a way out. He tucked it in his belt and felt his way carefully along the walls, guided by the distant greyness and the rumble of the trains.
After what seemed like hours, Dan reached the source of the greyness: a small, unreachable grating. Disappointed, he retreated to the shadows, and sank to the ground. Huddled against a wall, his chilled, exhausted body aching, his mind fighting despair, he dropped into a troubled sleep.
o-o-o-o-o